Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecasted widespread thunderstorms and heavy rain showers across Nigeria in the upcoming 24 hours.
The warning came hours heavy rainfall that lasted for over 10 hours drenched and flooded Lagos and other Nigerian cities.
According to NiMet’s daily weather outlook released on Wednesday for Thursday, thunderstorms are expected in the northern parts of the country, except for Sokoto and Zamfara, while rain showers are predicted for the southern regions.
The outlook says, “Strong winds may precede the rains in areas where thunderstorms are likely to occur. The public should take adequate precautions.”
The outlook also includes advisories to help Nigerians navigate adverse weather.
The agency says, “Airline operators are advised to obtain updated weather reports and forecasts from NiMet for effective planning in their operations.
“Moderate to heavy rainfall could lead to flash floods. The public is advised to avoid driving or wading through floodwaters due to strong undercurrents.
“To prevent flooding, the public should ensure that drainage systems are cleared and appropriately routed.”
NiMet says both day and night temperatures are expected to decrease. It thus advises “Parents should try to cover up children and infants adequately, especially at night and early morning, to avoid cold-related illnesses.”
On Wednesday, Lagos and other cities experienced heavy rainfall leading to extensive flooding across multiple districts.
The deluge commenced in the early hours of the morning and persisted relentlessly throughout the day, exacerbating existing drainage issues and overwhelming infrastructure designed to manage such downpours.
Traffic ground to a halt in many areas, causing considerable disruptions for commuters and travellers alike.
Streets known for their susceptibility to flooding, including low-lying regions and those with inadequate drainage systems, bore the brunt of the inundation, compounding the challenges faced by residents.
Meanwhile, Nimet has conducted extensive metadata exercises to assess and enhance the functionality and efficiency of its weather observation stations.
A statement issued on its X.com account says the exercise evaluated crucial elements such as equipment condition, personnel availability, infrastructure maintenance, and data quality across diverse geographical locations.
Recognizing the importance of accurate metadata, NiMet emphasised the need to compile precise information for all surface-based observing stations and platforms, including Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS) under the WMO Integrated Global Observing System (WIGOS).
This comprehensive inventory includes station histories and records essential for national, regional, and global meteorological purposes. Metadata, which details the capabilities of observing stations and their instruments, plays a critical role in ensuring data integrity and validity.
Speaking on the significance of these efforts, Prof. Charles Anosike, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NiMet, highlighted the challenges faced upon assuming office in December 2023, noting inaccuracies in existing metadata.
He said, “On assumption of office in December 2023, NiMet management realized that most of NiMet metadata information was inaccurate.
“Efforts had been made in the past to gather and collect exact raw metadata information directly from various geographical locations where Meteorological Stations are sited but to no avail.
“Some locations do not even have WMO ID, ICAO ID, Latitude, Longitude, Elevation etc.., and some locations within Nigeria, when plotted on maps fall off outside the country’s national geographical boundary and territorial waters, hence the need for accurate metadata update.”
He emphasised the necessity to gather precise raw metadata directly from stations, rectifying deficiencies such as missing WMO ID, ICAO ID, latitude, longitude, and elevation data.
Accurate metadata, he stressed, is fundamental to organizing data effectively and enhancing interoperability across systems.
“The importance of metadata information can not be overemphasized when it comes to the better organization of data and improved interoperability and integration.
“Its optimal use helps to gather better insights to improve product generation, upgrade processes, and ensure grid alignment of coordinates, as well as storing unstructured data such as images, videos, web pages, and spreadsheets,” he adds.
